Testing Guardianship in Action in Texas

• In Event: Guardianship and Crime

Abstract

Previous research has examined guardianship in action in The Netherlands (e.g., Reynald, 2009; 2010) and the northeastern United States (e.g., Hollis and Welsh, 2013). The current paper seeks to replicate and expand this work in a new social context - a major metroplex in Texas. Guardianship in action is broken down into the four primary components: invisibility, availability, monitoring, and intervening. The intervention dimension is further broken down into direct and indirect intervention on the part of the homeowner versus a neighbor. The results indicate that guardianship in action continues to apply in this context. Theoretical and research implications are discussed.

Authors

• Alex del Carmen, Tarleton State University

• Meghan Elizabeth Hollis, Tarleton State University